Treating Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) with Acupuncture and Talk Therapy
What is GAD (Generalized Anxiety Disorder)?
If you find yourself worrying excessively about everything from work to your personal life, you might have Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) - a type of mental health condition. This condition can bring about physical symptoms like fatigue, restlessness, irritability, and decreased concentration. Unfortunately, it can also get in the way of everyday living and affect relationships. Luckily, there are ways to get help. In order to manage GAD, it is important to seek out professional assistance - which might involve a combination of medication and therapy. Don't hesitate to reach out if you find that your symptoms persist and have an impact on your daily functioning.
What are the benefits of acupuncture and talk therapy for treating GAD?
Offers an alternative to psychiatric medication
Sense of relaxation
Sense of increased energy
Minimal to no pain
Relieve chronic pain
Accessibility
Fast relief
GAD-7 Questionnaire:
Feeling nervous, anxious or on edge.
Not being able to stop or control worrying
Worrying too much about different things
Trouble relaxing
Being so restless that it’s hard to sit still
Being easily annoyed or irritable
Feeling afraid as if something awful might happen
Benefits of Combining Acupuncture and Talk Therapy for Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Here are some potential benefits of combining acupuncture and talk therapy for Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD):
Reduces anxiety symptoms: Acupuncture can help reduce symptoms of anxiety, such as restlessness, irritability, and insomnia. Talk therapy can provide strategies for managing anxiety triggers and negative thought patterns.
Improves emotional well-being: Talk therapy can help improve emotional regulation and build coping skills, while acupuncture can help promote relaxation and reduce physical tension.
Addresses physical symptoms: Acupuncture can help alleviate physical symptoms associated with anxiety, such as headaches, digestive issues, and muscle tension. Talk therapy can provide tools for managing the psychological and emotional aspects of anxiety.
Complementary approach: Combining acupuncture and talk therapy can provide a holistic approach to treating GAD, addressing both the physical and psychological aspects of the condition.
Non-pharmacological treatment option: Acupuncture and talk therapy are non-invasive and non-pharmacological treatment options for GAD, which can be particularly beneficial for those who prefer not to use medication or who have experienced negative side effects from medication.
It's important to note that while acupuncture and talk therapy can be effective treatments for GAD, they may not work for everyone. It's essential to work with a qualified healthcare provider to develop an individualized treatment plan.
Lessons from the table: Treating Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) with acupuncture and psychotherapy.
Author: Annie Friedberg
GAD is a subcategory of the psychological disease known as Anxiety. Approximately 40 million people are in treatment for GAD each year. Their daily lives are interrupted by excess and exaggerated worry and repetitive rumination that is considered the hallmark of this disorder. Physical manifestations are described by the person experiencing them as a panic attack. Western medicine views this disorder as an imbalance of neurochemicals such as serotonin and norepinephrine and therefore treats patients using anti-depressant medications to balance the amount of the neurochemicals in the brain. Several areas of the brain are said to be affected and of special interest in GAD is the hyperactivity of the amygdala resulting in persistent and repetitive thoughts seen as a dysfunctional method of emotional processing.
Modern technology has made it possible to research the effect of acupuncture on the neurotransmitters in the brain. Such technology has indicated that the insertion of needles during acupuncture activates neural and neuroactive components distributed in the skin, muscles, and connective tissue. A study (Zhang, et al., 2012), traced the action of the needle manipulation as a reflex that traveled along the meridians and along the dermatomes to spinal segments up through the brain stem into the cortical system activating modulation of various neurotransmitters in the brain. Many specific areas of the brain involved in GAD such as the amygdala were identified as being regulated by acupuncture stimulation.
Many studies indicated that acupuncture would be effective in the treatment of anxiety. Traditional Chinese Medicine, as an alternative form of treatment, can offer not only reduced side effects as compared to medications but regulation of the imbalance of the neurochemicals in the brain and restoration of the mind/body spirit balance.
Below is a questionnaire that is filled out by the patient in order to evaluate the extent of the anxiety disorder and therefore what treatment modalities to follow.
GAD-7 Questionnaire: Asking patients how often they’ve been bothered by each of the following over the past 2 weeks. Scoring is based on the following:
(0)- not at all.
(1)- several days
(2)- Over half the days
(3)- Nearly every day
Feeling nervous, anxious, or on edge.
Not being able to stop or control worrying
Worrying too much about different things
Trouble relaxing
Being so restless that it’s hard to sit still
Being easily annoyed or irritable
Feeling afraid as if something awful might happen
The results will determine the level of anxiety for the individual and the type of treatment recommended for the extent of the diagnosis.
Patients with GAD present with exaggerated worry resulting in the inability to make decisions, and feeling overwhelmed by external factors. Various acupuncture points and protocols have shown a decrease in anxiety and an increase in focus and decision-making.
Acupuncture has proven to be an adjunct to psychotherapy, in the treatment of GAD.
What does an Acu-therapy session at Eastern Acupuncture and Wellness look like? A typical session begins with an intake to find out the patient’s concerns. Traditional Chinese Medicine diagnosis is used, in looking at the tongue and feeling the pulse. Then, the patient is asked to lie in a comfortable position on the table, at which time the treatment will begin. Acupuncture points will be used throughout the body based on intake, and breathing techniques will be taught to enhance the meditative state.
The patient will then be given a treatment plan to help maintain the state of mind achieved during the treatment.